Fan control system and method

ABSTRACT

A fan control system includes a sensor and a controller to control a fan. The controller obtains an actual temperature value sensed by the sensor. The controller speeds up the fan with a first predetermined value, in response to the actual temperature value being between a first and second trigger value, and speeds up the fan with a second predetermined value greater than the first predetermined value, in response to the actual temperature value being greater than the second trigger value.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan control system.

2. Description of Related Art

Controlling a fan in a computer plays a very important part in heat reduction. The speed of the fan may be controlled in real time in accordance with the amount of heat generated by the components. As the speed of the fan goes up and down with changes in temperature, the acceleration of the fan may be greater at one time, smaller at another time, which make the speed of the fan changed up and down in a short time, and this may cause unwanted noise.

Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawing(s). The components in the drawing(s) are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawing(s), like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a fan control system of the present disclosure, wherein the fan control system includes a controller.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a fan control method of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a fan control system 1 of the present disclosure. The fan control system 1 includes a sensor 20 configured to sense temperature of a component, a controller 10 generating a control signal according to the temperature sensed by the sensor 20, and a fan 30 to be controlled by the controller 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the controller 10 includes a processor 104 and a memory 105 storing a plurality of programs to be executed by the processor 104. The plurality of programs includes a first control unit 101, a second control unit 102, and an acceleration unit 108. The first control unit 101 defines a first trigger value and a second trigger value.

The acceleration unit 108 obtains an actual temperature value sensed by the sensor 20, and compares the actual temperature value with the first and second trigger values. For example, when the actual temperature value is greater than the first trigger value and is less than or equal to the second trigger value, the controller 10 causes the fan 30 to accelerate for a certain period of time. For example, the controller 10 controls the fan 30 to accelerate with a first predetermined value. When the actual temperature value sensed by the sensor 20 is greater than the second trigger value, the controller 10 controls the fan 30 to accelerate with a second predetermined value, where the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value. If the actual temperature value sensed by the sensor 20 is less than or equal to the first trigger value, The controller 10 do not perform the operation on the fan 30, and the fan 30 keeps the normal operation. In that condition, the speed of the fan 30 may be controlled by an original component of a computer, such as a baseboard management controller chip.

If the acceleration unit 108 controls the fan 30 to accelerate with the second predetermined value for a predetermined time, the second control unit 102 sets the actual temperature value as a new second trigger value. In addition, the acceleration unit 108 continually obtains a new actual temperature value from the sensor 20, and compares the new actual temperature value with the first trigger value and the new second trigger value.

For example, the first trigger value may be 35 degrees Celsius, and the second trigger value may be defined with 55 degrees Celsius. If the acceleration unit 108 obtains that the actual temperature value sensed by the sensor 20 is 40 degrees Celsius. Accordingly, the acceleration unit 108 determines that the actual temperature value is greater than the first trigger value and less than the second trigger value, the acceleration unit 108 controls the fan 30 to be accelerated with the first predetermined value, such as 3%. It indicates that an after-acceleration speed of the fan 30 is 1.03 times than a before-acceleration speed of the fan 30. The acceleration unit 108 continuously obtains the new actual temperature value of the temperature sensed by the sensor 20. If the acceleration unit 108 obtains that the new actual temperature value is 30 degrees Celsius, it indicates that the speed of the fan 30 needs not be adjusted. If the acceleration unit 108 obtains that the new actual temperature value is 60 degrees Celsius after the first acceleration process, it indicates that the actual temperature value is greater than the second trigger value, the acceleration unit 108 controls the fan 30 to be accelerated with the second predetermined value, such as 6%. It indicates that an after-acceleration speed of the fan 30 is 1.06 times than a before-acceleration speed of the fan 30. The second control unit 102 sets the actual temperature value as a new second trigger. Accordingly, the second trigger value is 60 degrees Celsius now, so that the second trigger value is changeable according to the actual temperature value when the actual temperature value is greater than the second trigger value. When the fan 30 is accelerated with the second predetermined value for a predetermined time, the acceleration unit 108 continuously obtains a new actual temperature value from the sensor 20, to compare the new actual temperature value with the first trigger value (35 degrees Celsius) and the second trigger value (60 degrees Celsius). When the new actual temperature value is 61 degrees Celsius, it indicates that the speed of the fan 30 does not meet the requirement, thus, the acceleration unit 108 continuously speeds up the speed of the fan 30 with the second predetermined value.

FIG. 3 shows that a fan control method of the present disclosure. The fan control method includes following steps.

In step S1, the first control unit 101 defines the first and second trigger values.

In step S2, the acceleration unit 108 obtains the actual temperature value sensed by the sensor 20.

In step S3, the acceleration unit 108 determines whether the actual temperature value is greater than the first trigger value. If the actual temperature value is greater than the first trigger value, step S4 is implemented. If the actual temperature value is less than or equal to the first trigger value, the process ends.

In step S4, the acceleration unit 108 determines whether the actual temperature value is greater than the second trigger value. If the actual temperature value is greater than the second trigger value, step S6 is implemented, and if the actual temperature value is less than or equal to the second trigger value, step S5 is implemented.

In step S5, the acceleration unit 108 speeds up the speed of the fan 30 with the first predetermined value, and returns to step S2.

In step S6, the acceleration unit 108 speeds up the speed of the fan 30 with the second predetermined value.

In step S7, the second control unit 102 sets the actual temperature value as a new second trigger value.

In step S8, the acceleration unit 108 delays for the predetermined time before returning to step S2.

While the disclosure has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the range of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan control system, comprising: a sensor sensing a temperature and generating an actual temperature value; and a controller comprising: a processor; and a memory storing a plurality of programs to be executed by the processor, and comprising: a first control unit defining a first trigger value and a second trigger value; and an acceleration unit comparing the actual temperature value with the first and second trigger values, wherein if the actual temperature value is greater than the first trigger value and is less than or equal to the second trigger value, the acceleration unit controls the fan to be accelerated with a first predetermined value.
 2. The fan control system of claim 1, wherein if the actual temperature value is greater the second trigger value, the acceleration unit controls the fan to be accelerated with a second predetermined value.
 3. The fan control system of claim 2, wherein the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value.
 4. The fan control system of claim 2, wherein the controller further comprises a second control unit, when the fan is accelerated with the second predetermined value, the second control unit sets the actual temperature value as a new second trigger value.
 5. The fan control system of claim 4, wherein the acceleration unit delays for a predetermined time, after the second control unit sets the actual temperature value as the new second trigger value.
 6. The fan control system of claim 5, wherein the acceleration unit continuously compares a new actual temperature value with a new temperature sensed by the sensor with the first and the new second trigger values.
 7. The fan control system of claim 6, wherein the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value.
 8. A fan control method, comprising: defining a first trigger value and a second trigger value; obtaining an actual temperature value sensed by a sensor; determining whether the actual temperature value is greater than the first trigger value and less than or equal to the second trigger value; and speeding up the fan to be accelerated with a first predetermined value in response to the actual temperature value being greater than the first trigger value and less than or equal to the second trigger value.
 9. The fan control method of claim 8, further comprising: speeding up the fan to be accelerated with a second predetermined value in response to the actual temperature value being greater than the second trigger value.
 10. The fan control method of claim 9, further comprising: setting the actual temperature value as a new second trigger value in response to the actual temperature value being greater than the second trigger value.
 11. The fan control method of claim 10, further comprising: delaying a predetermined time after setting the actual temperature value as the new second trigger value, before returning to the obtaining step.
 12. The fan control method of claim 11, wherein the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value. 